Li Xubin 李續賓

Li Hsü-pin 李續賓 (T. 克惠 H. 迪菴) d. 1858, Nov. 15, age forty-one (sui), a native of Hsiang-hsiang, Hunan, was one of the leaders of the "Hunan Braves." Shy and reserved as a youth, he became a pupil of Lo Tsê-nan [q.v.] and a senior licentiate. When his teacher organized, in 1852, a militia to suppress the Taipings, Li Hsü-pin volunteered to assist him, bringing to his task skill in archery and a powerful physique. Soon afterwards he was made commander of a battalion to fight the enemy in Kiangsi, Hunan and Hupeh (1853-54). He and T'a-ch'i-pu [q.v.] both possessed extraordinary bravery and usually fought at the front in places of greatest danger. Needless to say Li was repeatedly promoted. In 1855 he was stationed in Kiangsi and Hupeh. He recovered several cities in the latter province and participated in the attack on Wuchang which then, for the third time, was firmly in the grip of the rebels.

The untimely death of Lo Tsê-nan on April 12, 1856—eight months before Wuchang was taken—dealt a severe blow to the morale of the troops in the latter encounter. But Li Hsü-pin took over the command, and by his unselfishness, his capability, and his bravery soon revived the spirit of his soldiers. The aid which the Taiping leader, Shih Ta-k'ai [q.v.], attempted to bring to the rebels was frustrated after twenty-eight encounters. The resistance of the Taipings was further weakened by a long and deep trench filled with water which effectually cut off provisions and prevented communication. In due time these tactics proved effective and Wuchang was taken (December 19, 1856). The Taipings were driven to Kiukiang, and there Li resorted to the same method of digging a trench about ten miles long, at the same time repelling other insurgents who came from Anhwei to relieve the situation (1857). After prolonged fighting Kiukiang was taken on May 19, 1858. Li Hsü-pin was rewarded with the title of governor and after a brief interval was ordered to proceed to Anhwei where, in a short time, he gained possession of four cities. While marching an army of some 5,000 men to the provincial capital, Lu-chou (present Ho-fei), Li encountered strong resistance at San-ho-chên, a strategic town about eighty li south of his destination. Though he destroyed many of his opponents' barracks, his detachment was hemmed in by the rebel leader, Ch'ên Yü-ch'êng [q.v.], and after desperate fighting Li Hsü-pin, the majority of his officers and many of the Hunan Braves lost their lives. The Emperor, moved by the loss of so valorous a general, granted to Li the posthumous rank of governor-general, the name Chung-wu 忠武, and the hereditary ranks of Ch'i-tu-yü and Yün-ch'i-yü. In 1864 the hereditary rank was raised to a baron of the second class which was inherited by his son, Li Kuang-chiu 李光久. The latter was also awarded the degree of chü-jên (1858) and later served as provincial judge of Chekiang.

Li Hsü-pin left a collection of memorials to the throne, entitled 李忠武公奏 Li Chung-wu kung tsou-i, 1 chüan; and literary remains, entitled, Li Chung-wu kung i-shu (遺書), 4 chüan. Though Lo Tsê-nan is celebrated as the organizer of the Hunan Braves, Li Hsü-pin was regarded by Tsêng Kuo-fan [q.v.] as the one who led the army to fame. Command of the troops passed into the hands of Li's brother, Li Hsü-i 李續宜 (T. 克讓 H. 希菴 d. 1863, age 41 sui), who was also a famous general. Though less popular, he was less hasty and more circumspect than his brother. In 1859 he led the re-organized Hunan Braves in repelling the invasion of Shih Ta-k'ai at Pao-ch'ing, Hunan, and in 1860 he took part in the campaign in Anhwei, a province in which he served as governor, in 1861 and again in 1862-63. In the meantime he was governor of Hupeh for a few months. He was canonized as Yung-i 勇毅.

[ 1/414/la, 4b; 2/43/6a, 49/17b; 5/56/14a, 26/2b; 7/26/13b; 8/9/la, 14 下 /la; Hu Lin-i [q.v.], Hu Wên-chung kung i-chi, chüan 32 (1875); Huang P'êng-nien [q.v.], T'ao-lou wên-ch'ao 4/3b.J

TÊNG Ssŭ-yü

《清史稿》卷408

李續賓，字迪庵，湖南湘鄉人。諸生，膂力過人，善騎射。羅澤南講學里中，折節受書。咸豐初，澤南募鄉勇殺賊，續賓奉父命往佐之，從平桂東土匪。三年，援江西，令將右營。澤南每戰，續賓皆從。歸湖南，屯衡州，復永興。

四年夏，從澤南規岳州，湘軍僅千人，戰於大橋，續賓率數騎駐山岡，賊至不動，俟兵漸集，親搏戰，馳斬賊目，奪其旗，追北十餘​​裡。次日，塔齊布至戰地，服其勇，由是知名。連旬與賊戰，續賓曰：「賊不得擄掠，今且盡，可乘機薄其壘。」塔齊布從之。會風雨，奮擊，連破賊壘，賊乃棄岳州而遁。論功，累擢知縣。從澤南克崇陽、咸寧，規武昌，大戰於花園，及破鮎魚套賊營，功皆最。武漢復，擢直隸州知州，賜花翎。進攻田家鎮，賊水陸數萬，塔齊布阻於富池口，湘軍合寶勇僅二千六百人，咸色沮，續賓手刃逃者三人，軍心始固。大戰於半壁山，殺賊數千，焚其巢，遂平田家鎮。擢知府，賜號摯勇巴圖魯。尋授安慶知府。

於是從羅澤南、塔齊布連復廣濟、黃梅，破賊於翟港、孔壟，每戰率為軍鋒。進規九江，九江城堅，賊所聚合，攻不能下。議分​​兵剿湖口、梅家洲，從澤南屯盔山。十二月，水師失利，入彭蠡湖，為賊所扼。續賓憤甚，請於曾國籓，自率千人渡江攻小池口，塔齊布率二十人偕行。塔齊布與續賓皆恃勇，每合戰，逼賊，席地坐，槍彈如雨，不顧，忽躍起突陣，橫厲無前，習以為常。至是眾寡懸絕，戰竟日不能克，暮收隊，而塔齊布失蹤，欲再渡江入賊壘覓之，塔齊布旋自返。

五年春，粵匪由江寧大股上犯，武昌再陷。曾國籓頓兵江西，續賓偕澤南從之。尋分赴贛東攻剿，連復弋陽、廣信、德興、義寧，記名以道員用。是年秋，回援湖北，克通城、崇陽，分兵趨羊樓峒。策賊遠道赴援利速戰，堅守俟之。明日賊至，相持至暮，瞰其怠，突擊之，大潰。蒲圻、咸寧相繼復，加鹽運使銜。十一月，進攻武昌，破塘角賊壘，又敗賊於窯灣，屢戰皆捷，蹋平城外賊壘。六年二月，羅澤南以砲傷卒於軍，軍中新失帥，人情洶洶，賊復增壘抗拒。巡撫胡林翼奏以續賓代領其眾，軍勢復振，盡剷平城外新壘，連於賽湖堤、小龜山、雙鳳山破城中出竄之賊。七月，石達開糾江南、江西各路賊七八萬來援，城賊將應之，續賓御之魯家港，旬日內大小二十餘戰，解散脅從萬餘，破賊二十餘壘，加布政使銜。賊閉城不出，乃開壕引江水灌入，為長圍困之。十一月，克武昌，記名以按察使用。

渡江克黃州，連復大冶、興國，直薄九江城下。九江賊首林啟榮堅守苦戰。續賓復用攻武昌法，濬長壕三十里。七年三月，壕成，湖口、安慶賊迭來援，皆擊走之。六月，賊犯蘄州、黃梅，續賓渡江迎擊於廣濟童司牌，大破之。合水師進攻小池口，毀其城。策九江賊恃湖口為犄角，不拔湖口，九江不可得。九月，令弟續宜攻梅家洲，自率師揚言往宿松，潛伏湖口後山。水師並至，分攻，賊方悉銳以拒。續賓率士卒攀蘿至山椒，破空下，賊大駭，盡殲其眾。立克湖口縣城，梅家洲賊亦遁，乘勝克彭澤及小姑洑。捷聞，授浙江布政使。於是賊援遂絕。八年四月，以地雷轟城百餘丈，梯而登，殄賊萬餘，擒林啟榮及李興隆等磔之。九江平，加巡撫銜，賜黃馬褂，許專摺奏事。

續賓既下九江，請假省親，抵湖北，陳玉成陷麻城、黃安，移兵擊走之。時續賓威望冠諸軍，浙人官京師者，合疏請飭援浙江。胡林翼議大舉進規安徽，詔將軍都興阿、總兵鮑超由宿松趨安慶，續賓由英山趨太湖。續賓乃留弟續宜屯武昌，自率八千人行，會起曾國籓視師，續賓復分所部千人與之，至太湖而署巡撫李孟群師潰廬州，改道赴援。八月至九月，克楓香鋪、小池驛、梅心驛，復太湖、潛山、桐城、舒城，賊望風潰走。軍無留行，進規廬州。

賊於三河鎮築城，外列九壘，憑河設險，我軍非得三河不能進。續賓克桐城、舒城後，各留守兵，所率臨敵僅五千人。十月，分三路攻賊，九壘皆下，殺賊七千餘，我軍傷亡亦逾千人。趣後軍未至，而陳玉成、李世賢糾合捻匪來援，眾十萬，連營十餘裡。諸將議退守桐城，續賓不可。夜半，部勒各營，旦日迎擊，至樊家渡，天大霧，賊分隊包抄，我軍驚潰，副將劉祜山，參將彭友勝，游擊胡廷槐、鄒玉堂、杜廷光，皆戰死。續賓衝盪苦戰，賊集愈多，營壘皆破。或勸突圍出，圖再振，續賓曰：「軍興十年，皆以退走損國威。吾前後數百戰，出隊即不望生還。今日必死，不原從者自為計。」諸將士皆曰：「原從公死！」日暮上馬，開壁擊殺數百人。總兵李續燾、副將彭祥瑞越壘衝出，賊踞其壘，決河堤，斷去路。續賓具衣冠望闕叩首，取所奉廷旨及批摺焚之，曰：「不可使宸翰污賊手。」躍馬馳入賊陣，死之。同知曾國華，知府何忠駿，知州王揆一，同知董容方，知縣楊德誾，從九品李續蓺、張溥萬，皆殉焉。道員孫守信、運同丁銳義猶守中右營，越三日營陷，同死之。是役文武官弁死者數百人，士卒數千人。

時方有旨命會辦安徽軍務，及死事上聞，文宗流涕，手敕曰：「惜我良將，不克令終。尚冀忠靈不昧，他年生申、甫以佐予也！」贈總督，入祀昭忠祠，立功地建專祠，諡忠武。賜其父一品封典，子光久、光令並賜舉人，予騎都尉世職。

續賓既歿，曾國籓疏上其生平戰績，略曰：「續賓隨羅澤南征剿，循循不自表異。岳州之戰，所將白旗，號為無敵，田家鎮以少勝眾。九江之敗，士卒多逃，獨所部依依不去，眾稱其能得士心。軍中人人以氣節相高，獨默然深藏。然忠果之色，見​​於眉宇。遠近上下，皆信其大節不苟。臣所立湘勇營製，行之既久，各營時有變更，獨續賓守法，始終不變。歷年節省餉項及廉俸，不寄家自肥，概留備軍中非常之需。量力濟人，不忍他軍飢而己軍獨飽。馭下極寬，而弁勇有罪，往往揮淚手刃之。至於臨陣，專以救敗為務。遇賊則讓人御其弱者，自當其悍者。分兵則以強者予人，而攜弱者自隨。弱者漸強，又易新營。軍中每言肯攜帶弱兵，肯臨陣救人者，前惟塔齊布，後惟續賓。三河之敗，亦由分兵所致。此軍民所由感泣不忘者也。」於是特詔嘉其有古名將風，以國籓疏宣付史館，用示褒異。洎江南平，軫念前勞，加二等輕車都尉，並為男爵，子光久襲。